Page 9 of The Christmas Lodge
Derek considered the mansion, trying to see it through her eyes instead of through the filter of his fond memories of Nicholas. “It definitely needs work, but I promise it’s less spooky in the daylight.”
Lacy pulled another wry face. “We’ll see about that,” was all she said, and he wondered if she had already looked around inside the house before their run-in.
Before he could ask her more about her thoughts on the house, his dogs started baying again, setting up a racket that let him know in no uncertain terms that they were good and ready to hit the trails again. Derek shook his head, a little exasperated but also amused. Lacy caught his look and smiled a little, studying his team with some interest.
“I knew dogsledding was a thing, but I didn’t think itactuallyexisted in the real world,” she admitted suddenly.
“It very muchisa thing, especially here in Snowy Pine Ridge.” He quieted his dogs again, this time walking over to pet them and murmur some reassurances. “This team is still pretty young, and they haven’t quite learned how to control their excitement.”
Lacy bent down beside the lead dog, Max, and let him sniff her hand. When his tail began wagging happily she scratched him behind the ears and smiled as he melted into her touch.
“He likes you.”
Lacy looked up. “He’s pretty adorable. You know, now that he’s not careening toward my face at top speed.”
“Touché.”
Lacy shivered and Derek suddenly realized she must be freezing in her peacoat, especially now that her adrenaline had likely worn off. He was perfectly cozy in his winter gear, but she looked like she might turn into a popsicle at any moment, and he doubted she was staying in the vacant house behind them.
“Are you staying in town?”
She nodded. “At The Snowy Pine.”
“Can I give you a lift back?”
Lacy stood, eying the small sled with a skeptical look, her cheeks flushing a little, and he wondered if she was realizing that she would have to stand in the circle of his arms to ride in front of him. It was no different than riding on a motorcycle with someone, but from the way her jaw was setting in a mulishly stubborn way, he already knew what her answer was going to be.
“On that thing? Not a chance.”
Derek lifted his hands again by way of a peace offering. “I wasn’t trying to be forward or make you uncomfortable. It’s a cold night and it’s a long walk back to the inn.”
“Mr. Morse, I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself,” she said severely, drawing herself up to her full height, which wasn’t much.
Derek stepped back, giving her a nod and finding himself hiding another amused smile. “Suit yourself, Ms. Preston,” he replied, mimicking her formality.
He climbed back onto his sled and whistled. The dogs broke into a run and surged forward, leaving Lacy Preston behind. He shook his head as they plunged back onto the dark, snowy trail, making their way back toward Winter Run Racing. As he rode, his thoughts returned again and again to the woman he had just met.
Only a very, very determined woman would pick a walk in the dark through unfamiliar territory just to prove a point, he thought.
An amused smile lifted the corners of his mouth once more.
CHAPTERSIX
Lacy took what she felt must have been her first full breath of the day as she made the trek back to her grandfather’s house.
Well, my house now, she reminded herself just as a clump of wet snow slid off a branch overhead and landed with a wet plop on her shoulder. She brushed it off and tossed a glare at the branch.Typical for this town.
It wasn’t enough that she had almost been run over by a dogsled team the night before. No, now even the trees were out to get her. As soon as the thought ran across her mind, Lacy had to stifle a laugh at how ridiculous it sounded.
Chalk it up to not enough sleep and too much upheaval lately.
Continuing her walk toward the house, Lacy tucked her chin further into her coat against the cold. She had felt like a marshmallow while getting dressed that morning as she’d layered on a long-sleeve shirt beneath the warmest sweater she’d packed and pulled fleece-lined tights on beneath her jeans. It may not have shown when she looked in the mirror, but she felt as though she’d gained twenty pounds. Now, though, in the freezing winter wonderland that was New Hampshire, she was grateful for the extra layers.
As she turned the next street corner, the house appeared up ahead, set back from the road by an expansive lawn and the tree-lined drive that, even in winter, looked stunning and grand. The house sat on the edge of town, its backyard melting seamlessly into the New Hampshire forest.
Which, of course, is exactly what provided one Derek Morse and his team of dogs the ability to fly out of the night like bats from hell and nearly run me over, she thought, pulling a wry face.Apparently easy access to the trails around here means this house sits in a danger zone.
With her boot, she nudged at the ruts Derek’s sled had left in the snow by the side of the house, her face warming a little as she remembered the events of the previous night. She may have been scared out of her wits, but she had to admit that there was something intriguing about a man with such a rugged hobby.
